If not the freezer; waterheater question


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Old 08-26-02, 03:50 PM
Seerialmom
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If not the freezer; waterheater question

Since the answer I got for the freezer says it probably wouldn't do anything to super insulate my older mini freezer..here's another question.

If I use the "vacation" setting on my super-duper energy efficient 50 gal electric Whirlpool waterheater (basically it holds the temperature at 50°) what's the general time frame for it to reheat back up to 120°? And would it take more energy to heat back up once a day v.s. maintaining the 120° constantly? The WH is currently set to "energy smart" (not quite sure what that means...just know it's supposed to be better).
 
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Old 08-26-02, 07:54 PM
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The difference is temperature and density. One BTU equals the amount of energy to raise one pound of water one degree F. There are 8.8 pounds of water in a gallon times 50 equals 440 btu's required to raise the temperature one degree F. The ambient temperature of water is 55 degree F. to raise it to 120 degrees (65 x 440= 28,600 btu's). Cooling BTU's work the same way. Plus air is the medium in a freezer and the amount of BTU's required to maintain temperature comes no where near what an electric water heater requires.

There is a lable on your water heater that states the capacity and wattage of each heating element. Most electric water heating elements are 3,500 watts and there are 2 for a whopping 7,000 watt electric water heater. To put it another way, seventy 100 watt light bulbs or one-hundred and fourty 50 watt light bulbs.

What counts here is how long the lights or water heater is on. The less the water heater has to come on to maintain temperature, the less it cost you. Water heater insulation jackets do just that and are very cost effective.

As far as the cost effectiveness of turning down the temperature then turning it up depends on the amount of time it is turned down. The rule most accepted is a 4 hour turn down period. In other words, the savings for the 4 hour turn down period will be far greater than the amount it will cost you to bring the temperature up to your desired temperature. Most electric water heaters have an hour recovery. Some water heaters will state that on the lable as "Recovery/hr." If it states 44, then it will take a little bit more than an hour. If it states 52, it will take a little bit less than an hour.
 
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Old 08-30-02, 05:59 AM
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Lightbulb Water heater timers

Best thing to do is buy a water heater timer.
What it does is shuts OFF right before your shower in the morning.
You use all the water in the water heater (or most of it anyways) LOL so you have a tank of COLD water in the tank.
Since there is COLD water in the tank there is no heat loss.
Set the timer to turn the water heater back on about 30 mins before you plan on using the hot water.
This of course assumes you live alone, shower in the morning and have a consistent schedule.
Depending on your situation the timer may not work for you ...
 
 

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